“MOMMY he hit me!” Familiar words?
Ever wish you could wave a magic wand and -- PRESTO! -- your kids would be expressing their feelings, reasoning and discussing; instead of instantly reacting with tears and hurt feelings? I know I did when my kids were little. As they got older, they did learn to talk more and hit less, but it was a slow learning curve.
If that’s where you are now, here are a couple of toy recommendations that can speed up that learning curve! Maybe not as instant as a magic wand, but they can go a long way towards helping kids put some words to their feelings and start talking.
Kimochis
Loveable and quirky, Kimochis have adorable little ‘feeling’ pillows that tuck into their tummies and express what kids can’t or won’t. Each one has an expressive face on one side and the name on the other. ‘Mixed Emotions’ packs offer more feelings to add to the fun, including a write-on-wash-off one.
The different characters, like Bug, Cat, Cloud and Huggtopus, each have their own distinctive story, personality and feelings to match. Bug is a caterpillar struggling with a fear of flying. Cat is outgoing and boisterous but a bit on the bossy side, trying to learn some social graces. Cloud, the quiet and shy one has a head that swivels from happy to sad in an instant. And Huggtopus is, well, just all smiles and giggles.
They are each so endearing, you may find it hard to choose. That’s okay. You can have them all! They are only $29.99.
Story Starters from Spark your Imagination!
We love this little pack of brilliance! Created by a Canadian Mom, each card has an imaginative scenario that will get your kids expressing themselves in no time. Not just talking, but thinking and imagining, and best of all, problem solving.
Here are a few examples:
A mysterious egg shows up on your doorstep in a basket. What does it look like? When it cracks open, what do you find inside?
A princess whispers in your ear that there is a giant sapphire at the top of a 300 foot redwood tree. How would you get it?
You find a message in a bottle on the beach. What does it say? What will you write back?
There are 50 cards in all, designed to appeal to kids of all stripes, ready to occupy your kids anywhere, anytime. Fits in your purse and is only $11.99. Don’t leave home without it!
Judi Meade is the owner of Art-enfant, a member of Neighbourhood Toy Stores of Canada (NETS). Her stores are a destination for families looking for unique and fun playthings that sneak a little learning in on unsuspecting kids. She blogs about toys, children’s play and all things related at Toying Around.
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